Air Suspension gives you an advanced comfortable ride with a controlled driving experience. Luxury cars, and sports cars, and we see this technology deployed in some of the best models of commercial cars as well. The air suspension tech helps a driver in overall driving with the help of sensors, even ride height, and smart controls against unstable road conditions. But there are times when your air suspension system may fall ill. The very common failing areas are damper, O-ring, and height sensors. But that’s not all.
What is an Air Suspension System?
An air suspension system uses pressurised air as a replacement for a spring coil to give balance and more control to the car. An air suspension system has flexible bellows of textile-reinforced type of rubber. The sensors are attached to the system to track the extreme conditions of the road. They allow the passing of air into these bellows to maintain an even ride throughout the journey.
The purpose of the air suspension system is to offer an even, smooth, and constant driving quality. We see air suspension systems in sports cars as well as overpower on the race tracks. Instead of using conventional steel spring suspension, using an air suspension system is becoming a trend in heavy vehicles as well.
Parts of a Typical Air Suspension System:
A typical air suspension system consists of several parts to control the sensors, movement of air, and ride balance. A typical air suspension system consists of the following parts.
– Height Sensors
– Air Suspension Control System
– Air Compressor
– Air Reservoir
– Air Plumbing Lines
– Valve Blocks
– Air Spring Bags.
( Read More – Custom Air Bag Suspension Kits )
How does the Air Suspension System Work?
Air Suspension works with airbags instead of metal springs. The idea was to make a car more comfortable and balanced. Until the mass production of air suspension systems, drivers used to install springs in their cars for suspension but it didn’t work ideally.
The concept of air suspension is simple. Pressurised air in a bag reduces the impact of a fall or sudden outside pressure. Each tire of a car has cushioning, inflated airbags, and an air compressor. The compressor controls the pressurised air volume in the bag to suit the situation.
Using airbags offers your car a smooth drive on off-roading where you don’t find clear ground. Small bumps significantly disturb your speed and increase the chances of accidents. Alongside, when you’re driving on the highways or a clear city road, air suspension helps you to lower your vehicle’s height and increases fuel efficiency dramatically.
- The compressor uses atmospheric air and supplies it to the reservoir.
- The air then passes to the high-control valves. These HCVs are connected to the car’s frame.
- When you put weight on the vehicle, the HCV linkage moves and air travels through the valve, air pipes, and supply line accordingly.
- The movement of pressurised air inflates the airbags.
- As the bags achieve an equilibrium, HCV linkage and valve return to their original position.
- When you remove the loads, the axle retains its earlier state.
- The airbags release air through the exhaust port of the vehicle.
- Once the air is released, the exhaust port gets locked and maintains an accurate ride level.
Symptoms of a Faulty Air Suspension System:
– Uneven ride height while driving.
– Rough handling on & off the road.
– Noises coming out of your car
– Imbalance while turning the car
– Car sagging while carrying heavy loads.
– Airbag leakages.
What are the failure points of the Air Suspension System?
1. Air leakage:
The air suspension system works with the moving system of pressurised air through the valves & airbags. But there are some holes in the airbags, the holes don’t let the air work at its full efficiency. The damaged airbags leak the compressed air and the whole system starts to malfunction.
Solution:
– Check for any leakages in the airbag.
– If it’s a small one, use a patch kit to seal it. Otherwise, replace the whole airbags once.
2. Defective Air Line:
The compressor takes air from the surroundings and sends it to the airbag through airlines. These airlines are the carriers of compressed air. In case anything happens to them, your airbags will never be able to perform ideally. Moreover, it can cause overheating as well.
Solution:
– Check for any leakages or clogged airlines.
– Replace them if you need them.
3. Broken or Loose Electrical Connection:
Modern air suspension systems come with electrical connections. These are responsible for electrical signals & movement of components. The air suspension won’t work at all if the wires are loose or the electrical fuses are defective.
Solution:
– Securely remove all the live air suspension wires from the car.
– Carefully inspect the cables.
– If they are loose, fix them. If they’re broken, you need to replace them.
4. Malfunctioning Ride Height Sensors:
The ride height sensors measure the distance between the car & the ground. They send these signals to the ECM of your car and control the air suspension. These signals improve your car safety on both bumpy & smooth roads. The defects in the height sensors may give the wrong signals and cause inappropriate levelling.
Solution:
– Locate the height sensor on the car. You can find them on the front & rear axles.
– Replace it if you need.
5. Bad Air Compressor:
The air compressor sends the environmental air to the airbags. It is the heart of the air suspension system which causes smooth & even driving. If you’re facing issues with airbags, you need to check whether or not your compressor is working well.
Solution:
– Check for any kinds of worn-out components in the compressor.
– If found, you must replace the component.
– Notably, sometimes, you may need to replace the whole compressor.
6. Bad Electronic Control Module:
Malfunctioning ECM can cause irregular responses throughout the system. This will surely cause uneven driving and discomfort. The ECM receives the signals and controls the air suspension pressure.
Solution:
– If every other component is working fine, you need to check the ECM.
– Seek assistance from an electronic expert.
– Replace the ECM if needed.
Conclusion:
The Air Suspension system significantly improves the performance of any vehicle including the heavy ones. But this system also has its faults. There are so many components used in the air suspension system. If any of them are not functioning, the system will not work and cause you discomfort while driving.
In this article, we have discussed the various problems in an air suspension system and how to solve them. Keep riding.